Hafnium (Hafnium, Hf, in the periodic system of chemical elements 72) is a silvery transition metal, shiny, in the powder state it acquires a dark color and dullness.
Valued for:
• refractoriness (melts at 2233 °C);
• hardness;
• resistance to acids;
• the ability to significantly strengthen alloys (for example, adding 1% of this metal makes an aluminum alloy superstrong), increase their resistance to vibration loads.
About 90% of this metal is used for the needs of nuclear energy, the manufacture of protection elements, absorber rods in reactors.
Hafnium is actively used in the production of turbines, as well as in shipbuilding, aircraft building, rocket building (for jet engines, etc.) and for the purpose of obtaining alloys for aerospace technology.
In addition, this metal is an excellent getter in vacuum tubes and an effective neutron absorber in nuclear submarines.
Hafnium is a valuable raw material in:
• Electrical industry and electronics. It is used for capacitors, dielectric coatings, microcircuits, parts of electronic devices, etc.
• Metallurgy. Thanks to him, refractory and heat-resistant alloys, electrodes for cutting metals are created.
• Optical industry. Used in thermal imagers, fiber optics, mirrors, etc.
• Chemical industry. It is mainly used as a catalyst, as well as a material resistant to alkalis, acids and other aggressive media. Hafnium is considered a promising competitor to silicon in the production of chips for microelectronics.